At least 20 Bangladeshis who were allegedly trafficked to Russia with promises of construction jobs have been killed after being forced into military service and deployed to the Russia-Ukraine warfront, according to the Special Response Battalion (SRB).
Of the 30 Bangladeshis reportedly taken to Russia, 17 were killed on their first day of deployment, according to preliminary findings by the law enforcement agency.
Six are still on the battlefield, two have returned to Bangladesh, and two others are receiving treatment at a hospital in Moscow, the SRB said.
The SRB has arrested two alleged ringleaders in the trafficking case: Mizanur Rahman, 55, founder of Jabale Nur International, and Abu Taher, alias Lentu, 50. Efforts are underway to identify and arrest other people involved in the alleged trafficking network.
SRB-10 Battalion Commander Additional Deputy Inspector General Md Asaduzzaman disclosed the findings at a press conference at the force’s media centre in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka, on Wednesday, October 14.
According to the SRB’s preliminary investigation, the Bangladeshis were taken to Russia on May 7 this year through three companies—Jabale Nur, RS International and TS Group. Each person was reportedly charged around Tk 10 lakh with promises of employment at construction companies.
After arriving in Russia, their passports and mobile phones were allegedly confiscated, and they were handed over to the Russian military. They were then deployed to different areas of the Russia-Ukraine war after only 21 days of training, the SRB said.
Asaduzzaman said the Bangladeshis had not received adequate physical, tactical or military training to participate in combat.
The agency suspects they may have been used as bait to help identify enemy positions. According to its preliminary assessment, drone attacks on the Bangladeshis may have enabled Russian forces to determine the locations and distances of opposing Ukrainian forces.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to identify other members of the alleged trafficking network.
